Sutha to push for tax breaks

"I am going to reach out with understanding and readiness to people to give them opportunities," Sutha said yesterday.

"I have already talked to Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee during our informal meetings," he added.

It was Sutha's first day at the Social Development and Human Security Ministry.

Sutha said that although he said his ministry would follow the previous government's decision to build only about 300,000 housing units under the government's Ua Athorn low-cost housing scheme, he would listen to other opinions, too.

"If there are people who want houses from this project, I will raise the issue at the Cabinet meeting," he said.

Regarding the National Housing Authority's proposed demolition of several buildings in its Din Daeng housing estate, Sutha said he would solve the ongoing conflict with residents of the buildings based on factual information.

Residents of the condemned flats oppose the NHA's plan to relocate them while new flats are built.

A number of organisations including the Asian Institute of Technology have said the flats - built four decades ago - are in such disrepair that they should be torn down. However, the Council of Engineers believed the buildings could be repaired, Sutha said.

Sutha also welcomed the Democrat Party's decision to appoint former senator Kraisak Chonhavan as his counterpart in its shadow

cabinet.

"After I familiarise myself with work at the ministry, I will invite Kraisak for discussions," he said.

The Nation